Plains Political Tradition
Essays on South Dakota Political Culture, Volume 2
edited by Jon K. Lauck, John E. Miller, Donald C. Simmons, Jr.
310 pages · black-and-white photographs
The second volume in the Plains Political Tradition series
Across the country, election-night viewers typically see South Dakota as a “red” state, but is it really that simple? South Dakota’s political landscape is a mix of geographical variations and political subcultures in historical flux. The first volume of The Plains Political Tradition demonstrated this complexity, and this new volume focuses on the unpredictability and the occasional paradox in the state’s political culture.
In these essays selected by editors Jon K. Lauck, John E. Miller, and Donald C. Simmons, Jr., ten historians and political observers unpack the meanings in both modern trends and historical roots. They explore compelling stories of direct democracy, organized labor, West River identity, New Deal planning, Cold War loyalty, bicultural conservatism, and the Christian Left—among other topics. Tracking the shifting dialogues that make the Great Plains unique, the authors take South Dakota further into the growing study of modern political culture.
Contributors: Thomas Biolsi Sean J. Flynn Mark A. Lempke David Mills Matthew Pehl Nathan Sanderson Steven A. Stofferahn Brad Tennant Tonnis H. Venhuizen Robert E. Wright
Read the Rapid City Journal feature for Volume 2 .
Praise for volume 1 of Plains Political Tradition :
“Reveals a state that embodies the dual legacies of liberal grassroots activism and political conservatism. . . . This collection of essays honors these political anachronisms and authoritatively meets its goal to, ‘integrate and synthesize this field of study and locate it in the broader context of American history.’”— ForeWord Reviews
“Rewards close reading. . . . All of the essays are thoroughly grounded on robust footnotes which bespeak the solid work done on South Dakota history and politics.”—Nebraska History “Much recommended addition to any politics collection.”—Midwest Book Review
Jon K. Lauck grew up in South Dakota and earned his Ph.D. in history from the University of Iowa and his law degree from the University of Minnesota. He is interested in the history, culture, economics, and politics of the American Midwest and in American and European history more generally.
John E. Miller is a historian from Brookings, South Dakota. He received his B.A. degree in history from the University of Missouri and his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in history from the University of Wisconsin. He taught twentieth-century American history courses and other historical subjects at the University of Tulsa and at South Dakota State University for thirty years before becoming a full-time writer in 2003.
Donald C. Simmons, Jr. , Ph.D., MDiv., has served South Dakota in many capacities, including city councilman, Executive Director of the South Dakota Humanities Council, founding Director of the South Dakota Festival of Books, founding Director of the McGovern Center for Leadership and Public Service, Dean of Leadership and Public Service at Dakota Wesleyan University, and board member of Christ School of Theology at the Institute of Lutheran Theology in Brookings.
